Advanced Media Writing (464-0-21)
Topic
Writing Mental Health/Illness
Instructors
David E. Tolchinsky
Meeting Info
Annie May Swift Hall 109: Tues 3:00PM - 5:50PM
Abbott Hall Wirtz Chicago 203: Thurs 7:00PM - 8:50PM
Overview of class
This course will investigate films and television shows that highlight mental health/illness. Specifically, we'll look at how writers can use various parameters (structure, including nonchronological structures, character, plot, dialogue/VO, frame/tone) in devising their stories. And then we'll try it ourselves! In the background instruction on (General) screenwriting.
The goal:
To become more sensitive to how mental health/illness can be portrayed across comedy, drama and horror.
To become more sensitive to what depictions of race, gender, etc. may cause trauma.
To deepen your writing process and craft including how you research and how you look at a subject from a variety of perspectives.
To think about the creative possibilities of mental health portrayals and how to use particular techniques.
Maybe to think about the possibilities for healing in investigating and portraying mental health/illness.
To think about the possibilities for harm in portraying mental health/illness and to be sensitive to those possibilities.
To be introduced to a professional approach to writing and/or to deepen your professional practice.
To think about the possibilities of collaboration.
To reflect on the events we attend together and movies we see via a diary.
To investigate your topic via interviews, reading, movie watching, and self-reflection (i.e., "writer's research).
Most concretely, to write short scripts around mental healthe/illness and possibly create a pitch
deck.
Learning Objectives
See above.
To deepen your understanding of screenwriting as you ponder how to best portray mental health. To what extent should we be accurate? When does creative license trump accuracy? How does one handle biographical and autobiographical material? What are the ethics of depicting real people? How does one write about mental health without traumatizing/retraumatizing the writer or the subject? What is the best form/genre to accomplish what it is you're trying to accomplish?
Teaching Method
Lectures, reading assignments, discussion, in-class viewing of short films and selected film/TV clips, in- class reading and analysis of screenplays, and workshop of student assignments. Above all else, the environment will be a supportive one, and students will be encouraged to participate in a community marked by an atmosphere of collaboration.
Tuesdays are just for you - we'll bring in work and critique together. Although a few members of the Advisory Board (see website) might drop by to add their perspectives.
Thursdays are public discussions, performances, films, etc. Together, we'll look at mental health/illness from a variety of perspectives (filmmaker, scholar, anthropologist, psychiatrist, psychologist, etc). And we'll also be introduced to questions from the public - what are THEY thinking about, wanting to know, worried about.
Evaluation Method
Attendance 10%
Professionalism 5%
Progress 5%
Collaborative Practice 10%
Writer's Research Assignment 10%
Short Screenplays 45%
Reflections/Diary Assignment 15%
Class Materials (Required)
Readings will cost no more than $75 (works you might want to acquire as you research the particular aspect of mental health and mental health representations you're interested in)
Screenings will mostly be via course reserves, but it would be helpful to have a streaming service such as Netflix, iTunes, or Amazon Prime so you can stream current TV shows. Talk to me if internet, space, or streaming is a problem.
OTHER REQUIRED MATERIALS
A working computer, NU email/account, word processing program (ideally Final Draft, but however you can get your work to look like a screenplay or teleplay).
Class Materials (Suggested)
Consider acquiring one or more general screenwriting/playwriting books, including a book that explains conventional structures like 3-act, 4-act, and hero's journey. And also explains the process of revising. I can make recommendations.